On an ideal bowling day in San Francisco, the BLBC Women’s Fives team won top honors! Janice Bell won the Singles game against a very tough competitor from SFLBC. Cathy showed her strength as skip in the Fours game with six outstanding skip shots that took the point/s from the opponents; Reggie, Annie and Leslie did their part, and the team won the game with 10 + points. Janice and Annie won their pairs game with + 10 points. Cathy, Leslie and Reggie won their Triples game, after facing stiff competition from the opponents. Well done ladies!

Altogether, 80 bowlers participated in the Men’s and Women’s Fives
Tournaments on the SF greens this year, and 15 of those were full or
dual Berkeley members. An event for us to celebrate!

On a fine May 4 Saturday, eighteen members of the Berkeley club assembled on the Palo Alto green to defend the Meat Axe trophy against eighteen equally determined players from Palo Alto. The tournament, now in its 66th year, mimics the Cal-Stanford rivalry played out in “The Big Game” when the winning team gets to carry off the famous Axe. In the bowling world, the victors take home the somewhat smaller cleaver to proudly display in their clubhouse until next year’s event. Six teams from each club played a 14-end Triples game in the morning, and a second game in the afternoon. The scores were close all around, but Berkeley pulled off some exciting last minute saves, and ended winning four of the six games both morning and afternoon. The trophy was graciously returned to Berkeley by Palo Alto president, John MacMorris, to Berkeley president Ian Cameron. We look forward to next year’s challenge, which will be played on the Berkeley green.

Our thanks to the Palo Alto club for its wonderful hospitality as
always. Congenial competition was the spirit of the day.

Our first annual “League of Women Bowlers” gathering was a casual pot-luck dinner for the
girls of BLBC. We had such a good time lounging in the clubhouse with our wine and food that
we never even got out the door onto the green. We all know each other better now, and agree
that this event must be repeated at least once every year. We missed those of you who couldn’t
make it, but we certainly hope you will be able to join us next time.

A beautiful day on the green! Fifteen players from Berkeley faced fifteen players from Palo Alto. The clubs were tied after the morning game (2 wins each, plus a tie), but Berkeley prevailed in the afternoon, and once again, the Meat Axe trophy will be displayed on the our wall. Congratulations to the crowd below; every team won at least one game. Special thanks to Shawn, directing his first inter-club event, who was totally organized and ran a great show!

But at least as important, many members helped make the day particularly successful. During the days preceding the event, the ditches were weeded, the grass and surrounding paths were swept, the gate was cleared, and the weeds were mowed. On Saturday, particularly nice snacks were laid out, flowers were the vases, coffee was made, and bowlers were there to greet our guests. At the end, a thorough cleanup happened as if by magic due to the many hands who participated. I’m not attempting to name all names because so many helped, even some members who did not bowl, and I don’t want to miss anyone.

On Saturday, November 8, the Palo Alto Lawn Bowling Club hosted the Bay Area’s final bowling event of the year. The Ed Arnold Invitational, named for a generous and hard-working past president of the club, was played by fourteen teams of three – that’s 42 bowlers on seven rinks. Each of the 42 entrants played skip, vice, and lead, in rotation, in each of three 12-end games. Teams comprised two men and one woman each, and included representatives from most of the Bay Area clubs. In an unusual twist, no team won all three of its games, though eight teams won two, so the winners were determined by the point differentials.

Winning teams at the end of a vigorous day. From left to right: Ann Brillhart, Shawn Roney, and Cris Benton (1st Place) then Wilfred Wong, Rob Hoey, and Cathy Dinnean (2nd Place).

Berkeley was well-represented by two teams of full members, plus two of our dual members. The rotating format presents a unique challenge, and Berkeley proved up to the challenge! We proudly announce that First Place was won by Shawn Roney, Ann Brillhart, and Cris Benton, who had two game wins and 18 plus-points. Further, Second Place was taken by the Berkeley team of Rob Hoey, Cathy Dinnean, and Wilfred Wong, with two game wins and 10 plus-points.

These wins conclude a fine bowling season for Berkeley, during which we were on the podium at many events throughout the year.

We promote the game of lawn bowling for the enjoyment of new and experienced players alike.